As far as I could judge, it resembled Liothrix lu/eus in its

movements, in fact, many who had only a passing knowledge of

the Pekin Robin might easily mistake it for that bird. But an

aviculturist will at once note its more graceful appearance, and

also its more showy plumage and beautiful ear-coverts and

cheeks.


The above descriptions are utterly inadequate to do justice

to these handsome birds, and I certainly hope either Air. Harper

or Mr Finn will follow these rough notes with a full description

of their wild life, and also their demeanour in captivity.


From what I saw at the Zoo they would evidently thrive

on fruit, usual soft-food mixture, with a few mealworms, gentles,

etc. All four were males.



ON CERTAIN SERIN-FINCHES.


By A. G. Butler, Ph.D.


One of our members lamented lately that the Magazine

was too much given up to the larger birds—the Parrots, Ducks,

Cranes and other coarsely built members of the feathered family,

whilst the Serins and other more general favourites were being-

shelved. Although I cannot say that the above-mentioned

larger birds were ever special favourites with me, I must admit

that I was pleased to see the pages of the Magazine devoted to

Aviculture as a whole, rather than restricted in its scope.


When one comes to think of it, there is not very much

new to be learned about the more ordinarily imported Finches ;

there is a sameness about their mode of nidification throughout

whole families which precludes one from anticipating anything

very startling even when one breeds a species for the first time.

It is true that the discovery of metallic warts on the edges of

the gape in the youug of some Ploceid Finches was a little

surprising when first observed; it is also perhaps interesting to

note how Finches which, in a wild state, prefer to build an open

nest in a bush, will, in captivity, select a Hartz travelling-cage

in preference ; but you do not find one species (as in the Ducks)

depositing its eggs in marshy ground in a well-formed and well-

lined nest and another placing its eggs high up in a hole in a

tree: you do not find one species, as in the Parrots, building a

huge nest of twigs, and another laying its eggs in a hole with no

nest whatever.


Well, all this does not tell the readers of the Alagazine

much about Serin-finches; sol must proceed to give the best



